The ILIAD
by Homer
The death of Hector at the hands of Achilles
The Iliad was written over two millennia ago; however, its depiction of the human spirit and personality hold true even in our contemporary society.
The Iliad chronicles 55 days of the Trojan War which occurred in the year 1184 BC. The story was passed along down the generations until a blind man named Homer decided to use the written word to make the story immortal. Homer recorded the epic poem in 850 BC.
The novel contains real people. People that were kings, princes, warriors, women, and children. Students will learn about the plights of these real people, and how members of Greek and Trojan sides fought for survival and pride. Moreover, students will study themes which apply to everyday society. Finally, students will learn that many traits of mankind have not changed in the several thousand years that separate today and the events of the Trojan War. Furthermore, they learn that the Iliad was instrumental in teaching how the Greek's lived. The Iliad will give students a window to pear into the past.
The Iliad is a classic piece of literature. That is why it is required reading for the Senior AP/Honors class. Even people out of school should read this piece of superb literature.